No one plans to lose the ability to speak for themselves. Yet a sudden illness, accident, or surgery can make that happen in a moment. When it does, families are often left guessing.
Advance directives take the guesswork away. They put your wishes in writing and name the person you trust to speak for you. Stevie Kiziukiewicz, an independent board-certified patient advocate, helps families across Ocean and Monmouth Counties prepare these documents and keep them ready.
What New Jersey Calls These Documents
New Jersey law recognizes two types of advance directives. You may have heard them called by other names. Knowing the state’s terms helps when you talk with doctors and hospitals.
The Proxy Directive
A proxy directive names a health care representative. That person makes medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. You may also hear it called a health care proxy or a durable power of attorney for health care.
Your representative only steps in after a physician determines you cannot make your own decisions. Until then, you stay in charge of your care. You can also name alternates in case your first choice is unavailable.
The Instruction Directive
An instruction directive is often called a living will. It describes the treatments you would or would not want in serious situations. Examples include resuscitation, a breathing machine, or a feeding tube.
You can have a proxy directive, an instruction directive, or both. Many people combine them in one document. That way, your representative has clear guidance on what you would want.
How a Health Care Representative Differs From a Power of Attorney
A general power of attorney usually covers financial and legal matters. A health care representative covers medical decisions. These are separate roles, even when one person fills both. Stevie offers guidance on each through her power of attorney and healthcare representative services.
How to Sign an Advance Directive in New Jersey
The signing rules are simple, but mistakes still happen. You must sign and date the document in front of two adult witnesses. As an alternative, you can sign before a notary public or an attorney.
Your chosen health care representative cannot serve as a witness. Neither can any alternate you name. A document signed incorrectly may not hold up when it matters most.
You do not need a lawyer to complete an advance directive in New Jersey. Some families still work with an elder law attorney, especially when their situation is complex. Seawind does not provide legal advice. Stevie can help you understand the forms and prepare questions for an attorney.
You can change or cancel your directive at any time. Review it after major life events, such as a new diagnosis, a move, a divorce, or a death in the family.
Choosing the Right Health Care Representative
This may be the most important choice in the whole process. The closest relative is not always the best fit. Choose someone who will honor your wishes, even under pressure from others.
Ask yourself a few questions before you decide. Will this person stay calm in a hospital setting? Do they live close enough to be present? Are they comfortable asking doctors hard questions?
Stevie encourages clients to name a backup as well. Emergencies rarely happen at convenient times. A second person means someone is always available.
Make Sure Your Directive Can Be Found
An advance directive only helps if people can find it. Too often, the paperwork sits in a drawer or a safe deposit box. Meanwhile, the hospital has no copy.
Give copies to your health care representative, your alternates, and your primary doctor. Bring a copy to any planned surgery or hospital stay. Ask that it be added to your medical record. Keep the original somewhere your family knows about.
Your directive is one part of a larger emergency plan. HIPAA forms, a medication list, and emergency contacts matter too. Stevie covers those steps in her guide on how to prepare for a healthcare crisis.
Talking With Your Family About Your Wishes
Paperwork is only part of the process. The conversation matters just as much. Families who talk openly tend to face fewer conflicts during a crisis.
These talks can feel awkward, and many people put them off for years. Stevie helps families approach the subject gently. She keeps the focus on values rather than fear. Clients think through what matters most to them, from comfort to independence to faith.
Her background adds real depth here. Stevie is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She is also a certified Ethical Case Evaluator for the Ocean County Regional Ethics Committee. She understands the ethical questions that often come up near the end of life. She also knows how to help families work through disagreement with care.
How Stevie Supports Advance Care Planning
As an independent advocate, Stevie works only for her clients. She has no ties to any hospital, insurer, or care facility.
She meets with clients to talk through their values and goals. Next, she explains the New Jersey forms in plain language. She helps clients organize their documents and share them with the right providers. Her financial and administrative assistance services also help families keep records current.
When a hospital stay does happen, her role continues. She works with care teams to confirm your directive is on file and understood. She also supports families through hospital discharge and ongoing care coordination as recovery moves forward.
Stevie shared many of these tips at a community Lunch and Learn on planning for life’s surprises. Her message was simple. Ask questions, speak up, and plan before a crisis arrives.
Start Your Plan Today
You don’t have to face these decisions alone. A few hours of planning now can spare your family confusion and stress later.